Dianthus plant named ‘Devon Flavia’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Dianthus  plant named ‘Devon Flavia’ that is characterized by compact habit, medium-green foliage and fragrant flowers that are pink and reddish purple in color. In combination these traits set ‘Devon Flavia’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Dianthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: dianthus. Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: Devon Flavia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dianthusor garden pink that is grown for use as an ornamental container plant.It is known botanically as Dianthus×hybrida and will be referred tohereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Devon Flavia’.

‘Devon Flavia’ is the product of a breeding program started by theinventor in 1980 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, Dawlish, Devon,United Kingdom. The primary focus of the breeding program is to producenew cultivars of garden pinks that exhibit unique characteristics offlower color and form, and which, preferably, are highly and pleasantlyfragrant. In addition, new varieties are selected for beingwell-proportioned in respect of ratio of overall height (includingflower canopy) to overall width.

‘Devon Flavia’ exhibits pink and reddish-purple flowers, mounding habitand medium-green foliage, and is used as an ornamental container plant.Cultural requirements include full sun, well-drained soil and moderatewater.

‘Devon Flavia’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the open pollinationof a population of plants of the inventor's introduction known asDianthus ‘Devon Glow’ (unpatented). ‘Devon Flavia’ was selected a singleplant by the inventor, in 2000. The male and female parents of ‘DevonFlavia’ are presumed to be Dianthus ‘Devon Glow’. When compared with theflowers of Dianthus ‘Devon Glow’, the flowers of Devon Flavia arelighter pink (‘Devon Glow’ has lavender colored flowers), more fullydouble (‘Devon Glow’ is semi-double), and more sweetly perfumed.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor in 2000 in a cultivated area of Houndspool, United Kingdom. Themethod of asexual propagation used was stem cuttings. Since that timethe characteristics of the new cultivar have been determined stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations by vegetativepropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Dianthus cultivar ‘Devon Flavia’. Thesetraits in combination distinguish this cultivar from all othercommercial varieties known to the inventor. ‘Devon Flavia’ has not beentested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may beobserved with variations in environmental, climatic and culturalconditions, without however any change in genotype.

-   -   1. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   2. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ exhibits sweetly-scented double        flowers that are pink and reddish-purple in color.    -   3. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ exhibits medium-green foliage.    -   4. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ is 20-30 cm. in height and 10-15 cm        in width at maturity.    -   5. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ is an evergreen perennial herb.    -   6. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ blooms from March to November.    -   7. Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’ is hardy to minus 15° Centrigrade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Dianthus variety ‘Devon Flavia’ showing colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new variety ‘Devon Flavia’.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 1 illustrates ‘Devon Flavia’ in flower.

The drawing labeled as FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up of a typical flowerof ‘Devon Flavia’.

All drawings were made of 5-month-old plants grown in 1.5-litercontainers under a cold glasshouse in Houndspool, Devon, United Kingdom.No chemicals were used to treat the plants. All drawings were made usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance they are as accurate as possibleby conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new cultivar ‘DevonFlavia’. Data was collected during spring from plants grown in 1-litercontainers under a cold glasshouse in Houndspool, United Kingdom. Theobserved plants were approximately nine months old having been grownfrom cuttings taken in late summer of the previous year. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. No chemicals were used to treat the plants.Growing conditions are typical to other Dianthus.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus ‘Devon Flavia’.-   Species: ×hybrida.-   Common name: Hybrid garden pink.-   Commercial classification: Hardy perennial.-   Use: Ornamental plant for pots and containers.-   Parentage: ‘Devon Flavia’ is a hybrid plant that resulted from the    open pollination of a group of Dianthus plants named Dianthus ‘Devon    Glow’.    -   -   Presumed female parent plant.—Dianthus ‘Devon Glow’.        -   Presumed male parent plant.—Dianthus ‘Devon Glow’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Bloom period.—March to November.        -   Plant habit.—Compact habit.        -   Plant height.—20-30 cm. in height at maturity.        -   Plant width.—10-15 cm. in width at maturity.        -   Plant hardiness.—Hardy to minus 15° Centrigrade.        -   Type.—Perennial herb.        -   Root system.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using stem            cuttings.        -   Cultural requirements.—Plant in full sun, well-drained and            moderately fertile soil and keep well fertilized and            watered.        -   Diseases and pests.—Susceptible to known Dianthus pests and            disease but no other susceptibilities to pests or disease            are known to the inventor.        -   Time required to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks are            needed to produce a rooted cutting and 5 weeks to produce a            plug plant.        -   Temperature recommended for cuttings to produce roots.—The            air temperature needed to produce a rooted cutting, is a            minimum of 15° Centigrade, and a base heat of 21°            Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—4-6 months is needed to produce a finished            1-liter plant from a well-rooted cutting.-   Stem:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Stem dimensions.—Maximum of 23-26 cm. in length and 2-3 mm.            in diameter.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous and glaucous.        -   Stem color.—N138A.        -   Branching.—Numerous basal breaks and racemose inflorescence.        -   Internode length.—15-60 mm. between nodes.        -   Node dimensions.—2 mm. in diameter and 5 mm. in length.        -   Node color.—144C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Decurrent.        -   Venation.—Not prominent.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite and spiraling on stem.        -   Surfaces (adaxial and abaxial).—Glaucous.        -   Leaf dimensions.—10-12 cm. in length and 4-5 mm. in width.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surfaces).—N138A.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surfaces).—N138B.        -   Stipules.—2 present.        -   Stipule dimensions.—3 mm. in width and 4 mm. in length.        -   Stipule color.—N138A.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence.—Raceme with branches.        -   Flower type.—Double and symmetrical.        -   Flower shape.—Salviform.        -   Flower dimensions (including calyx).—35 mm. in length and            40 mm. in diameter.        -   Bud color.—Colors N138A and 143C are individually present.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Bud dimensions.—20 mm. in length and 10 mm. in width.        -   Bud shape.—Rhomboid.        -   Petals.—Persistent, apopetalous, overlapping.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded, slightly flattened.        -   Petal base.—Tapers to narrow base of width approximately 2            mm.        -   Petal number including petaloid stamens.—25-40, of which:            Number of petals: approximately 15 to 20. Number of petaloid            stamens: approximately 10 to 20.        -   Petal dimensions.—35 mm. in length and 16-18 mm. in width.        -   Petal margin.—Irregularly dentate.        -   Petal shape.—Obdeltoid.        -   Petal color (adaxial surface).—Individual colors of 62B on            ground of blade, N66B on band across blade, 65C on middle of            strap, and 150C on base of strap.        -   Petal color (abaxial surface).—Individual colors of 73C on            ground of blade, band across blade and middle of strap, and            150C on base of strap.        -   Petal surfaces (adaxial and abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Petaloid dimensions.—Variable, approximately 15 mm in length            and 20 mm in width.        -   Petaloid shape.—Very irregular, often folded and twisted on            vertical axis.        -   Petaloid apex.—Irregular, folded; apical margin serrate;            lateral margins smooth.        -   Petaloid base.—Narrows to approximately 2 mm in width.        -   Coloration of petaloids (abaxial surface).—As for petals but            predominantly 62B, 65C, and base 150C.        -   Coloration of petaloids (adaxial surface).—As for petals:            73C and base 150C.        -   Calyx dimensions.—18-20 mm. in width and 13-15 mm. in            length.        -   Sepal color (adaxial surfaces).—Individual colors N138A and            143C.        -   Sepal color (abaxial surfaces).—A combination of colors            N138A and 143C.        -   Sepal surface.—Glaucous.        -   Sepal apex.—Acuminate.        -   Sepal margins.—Smooth.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Sepal number.—5 in number.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Epicalyx number.—4 opposite pairs of bracts.        -   Epicalyx shape.—Elliptic; apex acuminate; base decurrent;            margin smooth.        -   Epicalyx dimensions.—6 mm. in length and 7 mm. in width.        -   Epicalyx color (adaxial surfaces of both pairs).—N138A.        -   Epicalyx color (abaxial surfaces of both pairs).—N138A.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Peduncle dimensions.—15-25 mm. in length and 1-2 mm. in            diameter.        -   Peduncle color.—N138A.        -   Peduncle surface.—Glaucous.        -   Fragrance.—Medium sweet perfume.        -   Lastingness of flower.—Outdoors, on growing plant at ambient            10° C., 15 days; at 20° C., 10 days Indoors as cut flower:            7-10 days.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Ranges from 0-5 in number from flower to flower.        -   Stamen color.—150D.        -   Stamen dimensions.—15-18 mm. in length and 1 mm. in            diameter.        -   Anther color.—155B.        -   Anther dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in diameter.        -   Anther attachment.—Dorsifixed.        -   Pollen color.—N66D.        -   Quantity of pollen.—Minute amount.        -   Styles.—2 in number.        -   Style dimensions.—20 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Style color.—155B.        -   Pistils.—2 per flower.        -   Stigma color.—N66D.        -   Stigma number.—Two in number.        -   Stigma form.—Bifid.        -   Height of stigma above petals (at maturity).—Exserted 5 mm.        -   Ovary position.—Superior.        -   Ovary dimensions.—7 mm. in height and 5 mm. in diameter.        -   Ovary shape.—Spindle shaped.        -   Ovary color.—144C.-   Seed:    -   -   Seed.—Absent. No seed has been observed to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dianthus plant named ‘Devon Flavia’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.